Open weekend success

Over the bank holiday weekend visitors flocked to the MV Egremont to show their support for the historic ferry’s future.

The Egremont Trust hosted an open weekend on board to tell people about the plans to restore the vessel.

Egremont Trust Chair Martin Hodgson told supporters that over £1.5 million would be needed to bring the much-loved vessel back to life and to utilise it as a much needed hub for water users in the popular estuary.

The process has begun for nearly £1 million to be raised through a number of routes including the Heritage Lottery Fund however Egremont Trust Chair Martin Hodgson revealed that this route would take a number of years and has no guarantees.

He said: “A bid has been submitted (to the Heritage Lottery Fund) and we are through the first round, however it could take two years with no guarantees and then we still need to raise over £500,000 ourselves. That’s why it’s important to host as many events as we can to tell local people what we are doing and how they can help.

“The Trust wants to see the Egremont become a real community venue for people to enjoy while preserving and restoring the historic importance of this much-loved Mersey ferry.

“The Egremont has been in Salcombe since 1976 and we need to make it fit for a new future on the estuary where it has a variety of uses including as a marine hub for visiting yachts, a venue for parties as well as offering sailing courses for which in recent times we have been well known for.”

Visitors over the weekend enjoyed food and drinks and a taste of sailing. The Egremont Trust plans to hold another event on August 1 at the end of the town’s regatta week. More details coming soon.